Polite requests, formal introductions, and courtesy phrases.
Scan the QR-Code with your phone camera to unlock this phraseset in the app.
Excuse me, sir / ma'am. ('Herra' / 'rouva' are formal — rarely used in casual Finnish.)
Anteeksi, herra / rouva.
Can you pass me the water? ('Antaa' = to give. 'Vettä' = partitive (some water).)
Voitko antaa minulle vettä?
Can you pass me the salt? ('Suolan' = whole salt shaker (accusative); 'suolaa' would mean 'some salt'.)
Voitko antaa minulle suolan?
Would you mind helping me? ('Voisitko' (could you) is the polite go-to — no need for 'mind' verb.)
Voisitko auttaa minua?
I'd like a glass of water. (Literally 'could I get a glass of water' — 'saisin' = polite request form.)
Saisinko lasin vettä?
Could you take a picture for me? (Literally 'could you take from-me a picture' — 'minusta' (-sta = from).)
Voisitko ottaa minusta kuvan?
I don't think we've met. My name is… ('Taitaa' = 'probably/seems' — softens claims. 'Tapaamaton' = un-met.)
Taidamme olla tapaamattomia. Olen…
I'd like to introduce you to a friend. ('Esitellä' from 'esi-' (fore-) — 'to put forward'. 'Kaverini' = my friend.)
Haluaisin esitellä sinulle kaverini.
Our Lingophant mobile app has a smart scheduling mechanism and makes it fun to record and practice phrases, wherever you are. You can download it from the App Store or the Google Play Store.
Scan the QR-Code with your phone camera to unlock this phraseset in the app.
If you have the app running on this device, open this link.